France and its European partners have stopped fighting Islamist militants in Mali. They are withdrawing their military from the West African country and will prepare a plan by June on how to continue their operations in the region. France and the partner countries announced this in a joint statement on Thursday. The French troops were stationed in Mali for nine years.
Read also “The question is not whether France wants to stay in the Sahel, but whether it is possible”
The withdrawal follows colder relations with those in power in the country. After coups in 2020 and 2021, Mali is ruled by a group of military. In the past year, France and Mali regularly clashed over the approach to the jihadists and the French presence in the country. At the end of last month, Mali sent the French ambassador home over unwelcome comments from the French government. France, in turn, is displeased with Mali’s hiring of Russian paramilitaries from the Wagner Group. The United Nations accuses these mercenaries of large-scale human rights violations in Libya and the Central African Republic.
Jihadist violence
More and more inhabitants of the Sahel are dying or having to flee from jihadist violence. Parts of northern and central Mali are controlled by jihadist groups related to Islamic State and al-Qaida. The violence has spread to Niger and Burkina Faso. Macron hinted that he wants to move his military to these two neighboring countries of Mali. However, commentators question how French military personnel from Niger and Burkina Faso can ensure the security of the area as the violence is concentrated in Mali.
Even after the withdrawal, foreign troops are still active in Mali, such as the UN peacekeeping mission Minusma with 14,000 troops. These other missions could be jeopardized by the French withdrawal, also because the French play an important role in supporting the international force. But Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares has said his country is happy to continue contributing to the mission. “We believe the reasons that brought us to Mali are still there: instability and jihadism.”
The international force in Mali, consisting of nearly fourteen thousand blue helmets from UN mission Minusma, has been commanded by Dutch Lieutenant General Kees Matthijssen since this year. The Netherlands supports the mission with support personnel and a transport aircraft, among other things.
A version of this article also appeared in NRC Handelsblad on 17 February 2022
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